The author’s experience caring for a patient with COVID-19 whose condition deteriorated rapidly into a critical illness in the negative pressure room of the ICU is described in this article.

The onset of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome led this patient to receive endotracheal intubation with mechanical ventilation and subsequent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for life support.

He was isolated in the negative air pressure room in the intensive care unit for infection control for this emerging respiratory infectious disease.

This patient was also confronted with emotional pressures arising from the general uncertainty regarding the progress of this novel disease and from being isolated from the outside world.

The care period was from April 5th to May 12th, 2020.

The data was collected through direct care, written conversations, physical communication, observation, medical record reviews, diagnosis reports, and nursing assessments of physical, psychological, social, and spiritual distress.

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